Nonstop flight route between Kansas City, Missouri, United States and Des Moines, Iowa, United States:
Departure Airport:

Arrival Airport:

Distance from MCI to DSM:
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- About this route
- MCI Airport Information
- DSM Airport Information
- Facts about MCI
- Facts about DSM
- Map of Nearest Airports to MCI
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- Map of Furthest Airports from MCI
- List of Furthest Airports from MCI
- Map of Nearest Airports to DSM
- List of Nearest Airports to DSM
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- List of Furthest Airports from DSM
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Kansas City International Airport (MCI), Kansas City, Missouri, United States and Des Moines International Airport (DSM), Des Moines, Iowa, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 164 miles (or 264 kilometers).
A Great Circle is the shortest distance between 2 points on a sphere. Because most world maps are flat (but the Earth is round), the route of the shortest distance between 2 points on the Earth will often appear curved when viewed on a flat map, especially for long distances. If you were to simply draw a straight line on a flat map and measure a very long distance, it would likely be much further than if you were to lay a string between those two points on a globe. Because of the relatively short distance between Kansas City International Airport and Des Moines International Airport, the route shown on this map most likely still appears to be a straight line.
Departure Airport Information:
IATA / ICAO Codes: | MCI / KMCI |
Airport Name: | Kansas City International Airport |
Location: | Kansas City, Missouri, United States |
GPS Coordinates: | 39°17'50"N by 94°42'50"W |
Area Served: | Kansas City, Missouri; Kansas City, Kansas, United States |
Airport Type: | Public |
Elevation: | 1026 feet (313 meters) |
# of Runways: | 3 |
View all routes: | Routes from MCI |
More Information: | MCI Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
IATA / ICAO Codes: | DSM / KDSM |
Airport Name: | Des Moines International Airport |
Location: | Des Moines, Iowa, United States |
GPS Coordinates: | 41°32'2"N by 93°39'47"W |
Area Served: | Des Moines, Iowa |
Operator/Owner: | City of Des Moines |
Airport Type: | Public |
Elevation: | 958 feet (292 meters) |
# of Runways: | 2 |
View all routes: | Routes from DSM |
More Information: | DSM Maps & Info |
Facts about Kansas City International Airport (MCI):
- In 2009 the airport was reported as having the highest number of wildlife strikes of any airport in the US, based on take-offs and landings.
- Many design decisions were driven by TWA, which envisioned it would be its hub, with 747s and Supersonic Transports whisking people from America's heartland to all points on the globe.
- TWA vetoed concepts to model the airport on Washington Dulles International Airport and Tampa International Airport, because those two airports had people movers which it deemed too expensive.
- The furthest airport from Kansas City International Airport (MCI) is Margaret River Airport (MGV), which is located 10,750 miles (17,301 kilometers) away in Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia.
- Although Mid-Continent merged with Braniff in 1952, Kansas City decided to name the new airport on the basis of Mid-Continent's historic roots.
- Kansas City International Airport handled 10,148,524 passengers last year.
- Kansas City International Airport (MCI) has 3 runways.
- The closest airport to Kansas City International Airport (MCI) is Sherman Army AirfieldSherman Air Force Base (FLV), which is located only 12 miles (19 kilometers) WNW of MCI.
- In March 2010 the airport was announced as one of the first in the US to have full-body scanners with the first one used at Southwest Airlines beginning in the summer of 2010.
Facts about Des Moines International Airport (DSM):
- In addition to work inside the passenger terminal, the airport is building a rental car facility and new parking facilities.
- Because of Des Moines International Airport's relatively low elevation of 958 feet, planes can take off or land at Des Moines International Airport at a lower air speed than at airports located at a higher elevation. This is because the air density is higher closer to sea level than it would otherwise be at higher elevations.
- The airport was originally governed by the City of Des Moines' Parks Department.
- The closest airport to Des Moines International Airport (DSM) is Ankeny Regional Airport (IKV), which is located only 12 miles (19 kilometers) NNE of DSM.
- The furthest airport from Des Moines International Airport (DSM) is Margaret River Airport (MGV), which is located 10,789 miles (17,363 kilometers) away in Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia.
- Des Moines International Airport (DSM) has 2 runways.